What to wear
What to wear to the Kentucky Derby
Bright colors, a great hat and shoes built for a long day at the track.
The short answer
For the Kentucky Derby, wear bright or pastel clothes and a statement hat. Women often wear a colorful or floral midi dress with a wide-brim hat or fascinator and block heels or wedges. Men wear a light suit, often seersucker or linen, or a blazer with bright trousers, a pastel shirt, a bold tie and a straw hat.
Usual dress code: Garden party attire
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Before you get dressed
Few American sporting events take clothes as seriously as the Kentucky Derby. Held on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, it fills the stands with big hats, bright colors, florals, seersucker and bow ties, while the infield draws a younger, louder and far more casual crowd. Both are part of the tradition, and knowing which one you're joining is the first step to getting your outfit right.
So what to wear to the Kentucky Derby depends on your ticket. Reserved seats in the grandstand and clubhouse call for garden party or cocktail attire, and Millionaires Row and other premium areas are usually the dressiest, with posted dress codes of their own. Wherever you sit, plan for a long day on your feet, unpredictable spring weather and plenty of walking, and choose shoes and fabrics that last from the first race to the last.
Kentucky Derby: outfits for women
A knee-length or midi dress in a bright solid, pastel or floral is the classic Derby look, topped with a wide-brim hat or a fascinator that coordinates with the dress. Choose shoes with a stable heel or none at all, because you'll walk and stand on concrete, stairs and sometimes grass all day.
- Grandstand or clubhouse: a floral or bright solid fit-and-flare midi dress, a wide-brim sinamay or straw hat trimmed with silk flowers, nude or tan block-heel sandals and a small bag that meets the track's size limit.
- Millionaires Row or a premium suite: a structured sheath or tea-length dress in a jewel tone or pastel silk, a coordinating fascinator or dramatic brimmed hat, pearl or gold earrings and slingback heels.
- Infield: a sundress or romper in a bright print, a sun hat, bucket hat or playful fascinator, sunglasses and washable sneakers or rain boots you don't mind getting muddy.
- Derby party at home: a colorful midi skirt with a fitted top or a floral shirtdress, a small fascinator or flower headband and flats or low wedges.
- Plus-size: a wrap or A-line midi dress in breathable crepe or cotton with a bold floral print, a wide-brim hat in a coordinating color and cushioned wedges or block heels.
- Petite: a knee-length dress in a small or medium-scale print, a fascinator or a hat with a moderate brim that won't overwhelm your frame, and nude block heels to extend the leg line.
Kentucky Derby: outfits for men
Men dress brighter at the Derby than almost anywhere else: think seersucker, linen or cotton suits in light colors, or a navy blazer with pastel or patterned trousers. Finish with a bold tie or bow tie, a pocket square, a straw fedora or Panama hat and loafers or brogues.
- Classic Derby: a blue-and-white seersucker suit, a lavender or pale pink oxford shirt, a patterned bow tie, a straw Panama hat and tan or taupe suede loafers.
- Millionaires Row or clubhouse: a light gray or tan linen-blend suit, a crisp white shirt, a bright silk tie and pocket square, and polished brown leather oxfords or brogues.
- Bold separates: a navy blazer, a pastel shirt, trousers in salmon, kelly green or madras plaid, a woven belt and loafers with no-show socks.
- Infield: a short-sleeve printed button-up or a polo, chino shorts, a straw hat or cap and sneakers you can hose off.
- Big & tall: a linen or cotton suit in stone or light blue in a long size, a spread-collar shirt, a bright bow tie or wide tie and a straw fedora with a brim in proportion to your frame.
- Derby watch party: chinos or tailored shorts, a pastel button-up, a bow tie if you like one and boat shoes or loafers.
Color
Colors to wear and to skip
Wear
Bright and pastel shades rule the day: pink, coral, lavender, mint, yellow, turquoise, kelly green and every kind of floral. Fuchsia, cobalt and emerald suit anyone who looks best in vivid color, while softer pastels flatter lighter, gentler coloring. Coordinate your hat with one color in your outfit to pull the look together.
Skip
Head-to-toe black or charcoal reads more evening than spring afternoon and soaks up heat in the sun. White and very pale fabrics are risky in the infield, where mud and spilled drinks are part of the day. Skip neon that fights with your hat, which should be the focal point.
The most flattering version of any color is the one that suits your own coloring. Find your color season to know which shades to wear near your face.
Details
Things to consider
Where you sit
The infield is a casual, crowded party with lots of walking and mud, so dress to get messy. Grandstand and clubhouse seats call for garden party or cocktail attire. Millionaires Row and other premium areas post their own dress codes, which typically rule out T-shirts, athletic wear and ripped denim, so check your ticket details.
Weather
Early May in Louisville can be hot, cool, windy or rainy, sometimes all in one day. Pack a light wrap or blazer and a poncho or rain jacket; in recent years the track has banned umbrellas and limited bag sizes, so check the current rules before you go.
Shoes and walking
Expect long walks on concrete, ramps and stairs, plus grass if you're in the infield. Block heels, wedges, dressy flats and loafers make the day far easier than stilettos. Pack blister bandages.
Hats and views
Hats are traditional but not required. A wide brim gives sun protection, but in reserved seating it can block the view behind you, so consider a fascinator or a smaller brim, or take a big hat off while the horses run.
Etiquette
Do's and don'ts
Do
- Coordinate your hat with your outfit by matching one color or trim.
- Try your hat on with your hairstyle beforehand and secure it with pins, a comb or an elastic.
- Wear sunscreen and sunglasses; much of the track is in full sun.
- Bring a light layer for the evening; the Derby runs late in the day, and temperatures can drop.
- Check your seating area's dress code and the track's prohibited items list before you pack.
Don't
- Don't wear stilettos to the infield or anywhere you'll walk on grass.
- Don't wear shoes you haven't broken in for a day that runs from morning to evening.
- Don't let a very wide hat block the view in reserved seats during races.
- Don't wear white or delicate fabrics in the infield.
- Don't count on sunshine; a poncho and water-resistant shoes can save your outfit.
Questions
Kentucky Derby outfit FAQ
Do you have to wear a hat to the Kentucky Derby?
No, but most people do, and hats are one of the Derby's best-loved traditions. Women wear wide-brim hats or fascinators, and men wear straw fedoras, Panamas or boaters. You'll see fewer hats in the infield, where caps and sun hats are common. If you skip one, a floral headband or a bright bow tie keeps the spirit.
What is a fascinator?
A fascinator is a small decorative headpiece, often made of feathers, flowers, sinamay or netting, attached to a clip, comb or headband and worn tilted to one side. It's a popular alternative to a big hat at the Kentucky Derby because it's lighter, won't block anyone's view and is easier to wear all day.
What do men wear to the Kentucky Derby?
Men wear light-colored suits in seersucker, linen or cotton, or a navy blazer with pastel or bright trousers. A pastel or white shirt, a bold tie or bow tie, a pocket square, a straw hat and loafers or brogues complete the look. In the infield, shorts, a printed button-up or polo and sneakers are common.
Can you wear jeans to the Kentucky Derby?
In the infield, yes; jeans and denim shorts are common there. In the grandstand, clubhouse and premium areas, most guests dress up, and premium dress codes typically rule out ripped or frayed denim. For reserved seating, a dress, skirt, chinos or tailored trousers in spring colors will feel more at home than jeans.
What should you wear to the Kentucky Derby if it rains?
Keep your Derby outfit but plan for rain: a clear poncho or rain jacket, water-resistant shoes or rain boots, and a hat that can handle water, like treated straw or a fascinator. Skip suede and silk, which spot easily. Leave the umbrella at home, since the track has banned them in recent years.
What colors should you wear to the Kentucky Derby?
Bright and pastel colors are the Derby norm: pink, coral, yellow, lavender, mint, turquoise and kelly green, plus bold florals. Match your hat to one color in your outfit. On Kentucky Oaks day, the Friday before the Derby, many guests wear pink to support breast and ovarian cancer awareness.
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